Something of a follow-up
to
Casablanca, but without that movie's deft and evocative script. Bogart
plays Jean Matrac, a journalist converted, by a confrontation at sea with
Greenstreet's elegant fascism (shades of Huston's Across the Pacific),
from bitterness against a France that has wronged him to self-destructive
patriotism with the Free French. The movie is brought to earth by its
unnecessary complexity - at one point we're in a flashback from a flashback from
a flashback - but the central scenes on Devil's Island have a cogency and
atmosphere, particularly Bogart's spell in solitary, which demonstrate the movie
it might have been. The last reel quivers with the sort of emotionalism that
wartime audiences adored. Bogart hasn't much to do beyond gritting his teeth,
Rains typically holds the plot together, and Michèle Morgan is thanklessly cast
as the wife waiting at home 'till we meet again'.

NOTE: A few individual sellers have broken up
The Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2.

Distribution

Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

Available in7-disc The Humphrey Bogart
- The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 with The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc
Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North
Atlantic / All Through the Night and Passage to Marseille.

Runtime

1:48:56

Video

1.33:1
Aspect RatioAverage Bitrate: 5.54 mb/sNTSC 720x480
29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The
Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Although this DVD is only 'officially'
available in The Humphrey Bogart
- The Signature Collection, Vol. 2, a few individual marketplace
sellers have broken up the package and are re-selling the single thinpak
DVDs (aside from the 3-disc The Maltese Falcon
- which is selling separately by Warner). We strongly recommend
the complete collection which represents 7 disc (5 feature films - all
on dual-layered DVDs) - they are all coded for regions 1 through 4 in
the NTSC standard. Each offer original audio and optional English,
French or Spanish subtitles. There are extensive extra features (see
individual reviews for more detail).

This is a magnificent progressive
transfer from Warner on this Bogie classic. Very sharp with excellent
contrast - the image looks almost brand new with hardly any damage at
all. Warner's restoration, combined with what must have been strong
elements, give this DVD top marks in the visual category. Audio is
likewise clear and clean.

There are abundant extras listed but to highlight one - I really got a
kick out of the Blooper real (entitled 'Breakdowns'). It's only
about 7 minutes long but I thoroughly enjoyed it - filmed verbal
faux-pas of performers like Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, Olivia de
Havilland, Errol Flynn, Bette Davis and Bogart himself. Another
worthwhile supplement viewing was the 16 minute new featurette The
Free French: Forgotten Unsung Victors. For the most part Warner's
Night at the Movies 'section' can get a little tiresome but I still
enjoy the cartoon entries (in this case - The Weakly Reporter').

Overall this DVD set is a very good purchase. Warner
has continued their commitment to preserving and distributing vintage
cinema from the golden age of Hollywood in the best packages possible.
Strongly recommended!

NOTE: A few individual sellers have broken up
The Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2.

Distribution

Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

Available in7-disc The Humphrey Bogart
- The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 with The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc
Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North
Atlantic / All Through the Night and Passage to Marseille.